We Are the Way

When tragedy strikes anywhere around the globe, the international community is typically quick to respond with at least some sort of token support. After the Haiti earthquake, regular citizens donated money beyond what their governments had given and musicians came together for a special tribute. The following story was published in Time magazine:
“In recent years, that staple of mid 1980’s---the all-star benefit tune—has become a pop rarity. But now, 25 years after ‘We Are the World’ raised $63 million for African famine relief, a new generation of musicians has rerecorded the anthem, with proceeds going to victims of Haiti’s recent earthquake.
The idea of charity records began with the Beatles. Or, rather, with some Beatles. Following the breakup of the Fab Four, George Harrison helped organize 1971’s Concert for Bangladesh, the first star-studded event of its kind. Proceeds from the concert’s live triple album went to UNICEF. Paul McCartney followed suit with a 1979 collaboration, cheekily dubbed Rockestra, for victims of Pol Pot’s purges in Cambodia. The first certified charity smash didn’t arrive, however, until 1984, when Band Aid—a British and Irish supergroup that included Sting, Bono and George Michael—recorded ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ to benefit African famine victims. The effort raised some $18 million and was soon copied across the pond by USA for Africa with “We Are the World,” which quickly became the best-selling song of the decade.
After the 1980’s, charity tunes hit mostly false notes (Anyone remember 2008’s ‘Just Stand Up’?) except for Elton John’s 1997 reworking of ‘Candle in the Wind,’ which benefitted Princess Diana’s foundation following her death. The song’s outsize success—it is the best-selling single ever—spawned a wave of imitators too lazy to even think up new lyrics. ‘Do They Know it’s Christmas’ was rerecorded and released in 2004 to benefit Darfur. And the new ‘We Are the World,’ featuring and Auto-Tuned Lil Wayne in place of Bob Dylan, may be raising money atop the iTunes charts, but it does so at the expense of botching a sentimental classic. At least its heart is in the right place.”- Dan Fletcher, Time
With the best of intentions, these artists sought to unify the world by reminding its inhabitants that they are all bound together. When adversity threatens one particular population, it endangers all of humanity.

As Christians, we should not be strangers to the idea of uniting behind common beliefs and purposes, of knowing that our destinies are tied together for better or worse. Just before his death, Jesus called out to the Father by saying, “…I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one” (John 17:11). Jesus’ prayer for his disciples was that they be a single cohesive family.

Of course, Christians do not always get along or treat each other as they should. However, that is the goal that Jesus puts forward. Much like the people involved with creating the song “We Are the World” to remind citizens of every nation that we have more in common than we often think, Christians are called to share a common faith which causes them to act in unison regardless of difficult situations which may arise. Remembering that gives us the power to overcome any differences and thereby fulfill one of Christ’s final wishes.